in the Principality of Aethelmearc,
in the Kingdom of the East,
of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc.
December 13-15
EK Brewers' Collegium
@Northpass (NY)
January 4
EK Twelfth Night
@Bridge (RI) (not the clam shack)
January 11
Aethelmearc 12th Night
@Thescorre (NY)
Twins' 98th: Beware!
January 18
Winter War Challenge
@Northern Outpost (NY)
January 26
Superbowl XXXI
"@Rich Stadium (NY)"
February 1
Market Day at Birka
@Stonemarch (NH)
February 8
Battle of Maldon
@MyrkfÊlinn (NY)
Blades & Blarney
@Glenn Linn (NY)
February 15
Harp Seal V: A Passage to India
@Coppertree (NY)
February 22
XII Deadly Sins
@Delftwood (NY)
UWEKAT
@Thescorre (NY)
East Kingdom Crown Tourney
Their Royal Majesties crown their successors, Hanse von Drachenclaue and Moruadh of An Tir Caillte.
by Mathilde
"Say, isn't Englewood where some dirigible like the Hindenburg went down?" "Yeah, the Akron or the Macon; the local group holds events on the field where it crashed, and they say you can still find pieces of burned rubber in the woods." Rhiannon and I were in historic New Jersey again, eating in an Englewood diner after a long day at East Kingdom Crown. I finally recalled why the town name was making me feel uneasy, but then just being in New Jersey usually makes me and Rhi feel like it's time to be movin' along. Especially after that regrettable incident in '94 when the back of my van came open and my roaster oven flew out onto Route 208, followed by Robin Wallace's armor...Crown itself had actually been quite pleasant. There were over sixty combatants in the tourney, fighting for the dubious privilege of being war king or queen at Pennsic 26. The day was delightful--sunny, warm, and full of autumn color. Eight lists full of fighters were surrounded by colorful spectators, gossiping, flirting, and enjoying one of the great spectacles of the East. Duchess Luna took over the creation of The Betting Man's Guide to Crown Tourney and produced an annotated 12-page list of combatants. For example: "Viscount Sir Bear Wallsbane--with Aethelmearc nearly a kiut of state dinners? There are easier ways, honest! Arms: On black,ngdom, will his heart really be in this? I don't think so. Hey, Judith, is this a way to get o a yellow brick wall with a yellow bear pawprint crashing through it. BIG fuzzy guy."
The Final Four included Sir Andreas der Eisfalke - "He's finaled before and has the US Government planning his training program."; Master Hanse von Drachenklaue - "Get a haircut and get a real job!"; Sir Gunther Pathwarden (the Seeker) - "Without any vampires to enrage his apocalyptic fury, how well can he do?"; and Duke Master Balfar von Grunwald - "Oy." (The Duke is married to Duchess Luna.) Master Hanse defeated Duke Balfar, surprising a crowd who did not expect a fighter who had only been a member of the chivalry for thirteen months to win over the redoubtable, hard-hitting duke. Sir Andreas bested Sir Gunther, and then met Master Hanse in a best-of-five series for the finals. Sir Andreas was fighting for Mistress Isabella of York, who was looking beautiful in full Elizabethan dress, of course, and Master Hanse fought for his lady, a sweet Scottish lass named Moira MacRae. And Hanse, who had been squire to King Lucan, proved that he'd been paying attention at all those practices in the dojo. He received the prince's coronet from his former master, and in turn crowned his lady while she dissolved in tears. I felt a little teary-eyed myself, as this was my last shot at participating in EK Crown. Since Aethelmearc is becoming a kingdom next year, none of us Mearcians are eligible to fight or be fought for in Eastern Crown any more. Bear did do well, however, and Puppy, who fights for me, made it to the fourth round! He was rewarded with a dog biscuit cookie from Bjorn, who stuck it into his face grill, saying "Good Puppy!"
Surrounded by friends and spectators, Mistress Isabella of York watches the tournament from behind the list ropes.
by Caterina
Owing to some last-minute phone calls involving an injured cat and some chocolate beer, I found myself in Tappan, NY, watching Crown Tourney, which took place across the street from the Benedictine College. The colorful fall spectacle was colorful in its autumnal spectacularity, and my friends and I managed to get in some shopping despite it all. Then we split up for dinner, some going with Rhi and Mathilde and the more sensible of us opting to stay in town for some fine chow at the '76 Tavern, which served a full colonial menu off pewter plates for $17.76.Much later, we were at our host's place in Berkeley Heights, NJ, wondering where the heck the party had gotten to, when Armand and his companion stumbled in wearily, still wearing their Norman attire. "You'll never believe this," he mumbled. "We had to drive all the way to Englewood just to eat at some diner!"
Proof that aliens walk among us, even at Crown Tourney.
